NYCHA Chair Russ Discusses the Future of Public Housing with Silicon Harlem

On October 22, NYCHA Chair and CEO Greg Russ spoke about his ideas for preserving and strengthening New York City’s public housing as part of Silicon Harlem’s “Beyond Connected” Virtual Summit.

Silicon Harlem is a social venture that aims to transform Harlem into a technology and innovation hub and help all New Yorkers participate in the digital economy. Its summit explored critical topics such as education, healthcare, innovation, transportation, and more.

During his conversation with Clayton Banks, Silicon Harlem’s Co-Founder and CEO, Chair Russ highlighted the role of connectivity in making progress as a community.

Chair Russ explained how NYCHA is working to make its buildings more comfortable and safer while also creating job opportunities for residents. For instance, NYCHA is currently testing pilot projects involving heat and hot water systems and other green, energy-efficient technologies.

“That will be an investment in the families, not just developments,” Chair Russ noted. “When we invest in these properties, we are looking to change the energy profile of these sites. We could be generating heat and using hot water and electricity differently. Once we invest in [these technologies], that means an opportunity for someone to either learn that craft or help maintain the system.”

Chair Russ noted that the number one priority for him is modernizing NYCHA’s housing.

“The measure of success on capital investment would be the number of buildings that have been comprehensively modernized, fundamentally changed,” he said. “And if we can improve the basic services in every NYCHA building – including ensuring that the hallways and grounds are clean – that’s equally important for me. That’s where residents feel the impact every day. That’s the measure of success for me.”